The failure of State public policy on water leading to mismanagement of existing water resources, and not a deficient monsoon, was the real cause of the acute drought in the State, the Maharashtra State Drought Mitigation and Famine Eradication Board has said.

The board also claimed that the State’s flagship water conservation scheme, the Jalyayukt Shivar, followed an unscientific process and was essentially contractor-driven.

The board is a social organisation engaging in advocacy on water scarcity and agrarian crises in the State since 1952. Maharashtra is facing an acute water scarcity this year, with over 20,000 villages from 312 talukas being declared drought-affected since in October last year. It termed the current scenario as the “most gruesome water emergency”.

In a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on February 16, the board sought implementation of a series of measures to reduce rural water distress. After assessing the water shortage scenario in 30 districts between October 2018 and February 2019, the board wants the State to earmark its entire available surface water resources for humans and animals and stop allocation to water-guzzling industries like alcohol, sugar, paper, chemicals etc.

Vice-president of the board, Prof H.M. Desarda, a water resources economist and former member of the State Planning Board, said Maharashtra had registered “enough rainfall” of 300 mm this year in most talukas, that could have easily have allowed a per capita water availability of 10 lakh litres per annum.

Mr. Desarda demanded that the State acquire all ground water sources, including private wells, by declaring them as common property and distribute water to the community. He accused the government of being insensitive to the pain of the farming community that constitutes about one-fourth of the State’s population and contributes 9% of the State gross domestic product.

The Jalyukt Shivar, Mr. Desarda said, “is not a water harvesting scheme, but a contractor-driven money harvesting programme.” He said the scheme was causing huge ecological destruction as heavy machinery has been deployed to carry out works across river basins

A resolution by the board sought livelihood support of ₹500 per day or family for the rural unemployed, educational support including hostel facility for rural students affected by the drought, and streamlining of fair price shops.

(With PTI inputs)